The report card
- Clearing power25% of score8.0
Mouth-powered, so you can vary the pressure, and Snufflebabe says you can't over-suck.
- Gentleness20% of score9.0
Held under each nostril rather than inside it, and sold as suitable from birth.
- Hygiene & cleaning20% of score8.0
A filter keeps mucus in the collection chamber, and it just needs a wash in warm water.
- Ease of use & noise15% of score8.0
Silent and simple, with a storage case to keep it clean between uses.
- Price & running costs20% of score9.0
Around £9 with reusable filters, and Snufflebabe says it's also available on prescription.
The full review
Snufflebabe is a familiar name on UK pharmacy shelves, and its aspirator works on the same principle as the NoseFrida. You hold the nozzle under your baby's nostril, one side at a time, and suck through a mouthpiece, with a filter that stops mucus reaching you. The only rule, Snufflebabe says, is never to blow.
The practical difference is the filters. Snufflebabe says its filters can be washed and reused, and the aspirator itself just needs a wash in warm water before going back into its case. That makes it cheaper to run than the NoseFrida, whose filters are single use. Snufflebabe also says the design makes it impossible to over-suck, which is reassuring the first few times.
It's easy to find (Snufflebabe lists Boots, Tesco, Superdrug and ASDA among its stockists), owners rate it highly, and the company says it's available on prescription too. For dry, crusty snot, Snufflebabe suggests loosening it with saline drops first, which matches NHS advice.
Pros and cons
What I like
- Washable, reusable filters
- Sits under the nostril rather than inside it
- Silent, with a storage case
- Easy to find on the high street
What I don't
- Mouth-powered suction takes some getting used to
- Needs two hands
- Filters need washing and drying after use
Key specs
- Type
- Manual, mouth-powered
- Age
- From birth
- Filters
- Washable and reusable (1 or 2 supplied, depending on pack)
- Cleaning
- Wash in warm water
- Extras
- Storage case
- Availability
- Also available on prescription, according to Snufflebabe
Head-to-heads
What I read
This is a research-led review. These are the main sources behind the scores, alongside patterns in verified owner reviews. How I review.